soltmann



(No Model.)

' E. G. SOLTMANN.

TAPE MEASURE.

No. 400,961. Patented Apr. 9, 1889.

WITNESSES: S INVENTUH Emmi ififlcmmw wf aww M 'ATTOR N EY u. PETERS.Pmwuma n m. Vlrmlungion. 0v c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD G. SOLTMANN, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

TAPE-M EA'SU RE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,961, dated April 9,1889.

Application filed October 9, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. SOLTMANN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tape-Lines, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tape-lines, and especially toholders for the same, and means for securing said holders, all of whichis fully pointed outin the following specification and claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents aface View of a tapeline case, showing the holder attached to thetape-line and the tape-line wound up. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a face view illustrating the use of the tape-line.Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the holder attached t0 the tape-line.Fig. 5 is a similar view of the holder detached. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of a modification of the holder. Fig. 7 is a perspective view ofthe strap for attaching the holder to the tape-line.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, and 3 especially, the letter A designates atape-line housing, which contains the reel to which the end of thetape-line B is attached, all as usual. To the outer end of the tape-lineB, I attach a holder, 0, which is provided with a stop, a, that projectsfrom the body thereof at approximately right angles. This stop is bestformed directly at the outer end of the body of the holder, and itsexternal surface is made perfectly fiat and extending at approximatelyright angles to the body of the holder. In practice I make the holderfully equal in width to the tape, whereby a good rest is obtained forthe finger in retaining the same against the object from which themeasurement is to be taken, Fig. 3.

I-Ieretofore holders for tape-lines consisted merely of rings or hooks,which did not form a convenient hold, and could not be held rigidly byhand against the object when the tape-line was drawn taut.

An opening, 1), Figs. 4 and 5, may be made in the body of the holder 0,into which the end of the finger can extend to permit the height of thestop a to be reduced to a mini- Serial No. 287,635- (No modelJ mum, andalso to facilitate the carrying of the holder. In order that the holdermay lie close to the periphery of the tape-line housing A when thetape-line is wound up, the

upper edge of the stop a may be recessed to fit over the bead c, formingthe joint of the,

two sections of the housing, Fig. 2. Of course, when such a bead doesnot exist, the recess is omitted.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the holder 0 provided with an open stop, and itis evident that other modifications in the form or construction of theholder could be adopted to the same end. It is evident that the stop ais also adapted to engage with the sole of the boot when the foot isused to hold the end of the tape-line in position on the ground.

The holder 0 can be united to the end of the tape-line by any suitablemeans. In the example illustrated in the drawings, Figs. 3, 4, and 7, Ihave made use of a metallic tapeline, and in this case the holder isattached by a metallic strap, D, which is looped about a bar on theholder, and is riveted to the tape-line. The arms of the strap, whichembrace and are united to the tape-line, gradually decrease in width ortaper to approximately a point, so that the resistance to bendbeingapproximately of the same width as the body of the holder, substantiallyas described' 2. The combination, with the tape, of a holder having atits outer enda projecting stop provided with a recessed upperedge, saidholder being so located that the recess receives the bead of the casingwhen the tapeis wound up, substantially as described.

3. In a tape-measure, the combination of a metallic tape, a holder, andthe flexible memy invention I have signed my name, in p'resenee of twowitnesses, this 3d (layof October,

EDXVA G. SOLTMANN. lVitnesses:

A. FABER DU FAUR, J12, 11.. W. IIELFER.

